The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1887-06-08
"you have not offended me, Captain

"You have not offended me, Captain
Rotfe," she said in a sweet, low voice.
Rolfe could not speak, for he could only
retain his composure by keeping silent. He
leaned against the railing and looked at the
ruddy windows in the out-buildings, and lis
tened to the merry din that tioated on the
evening air.
"Let me see the scar on your temple that
Lord Creighton made, said Miss Craydocke
abruptly.
He stopped over so that she might see it in
the light. She laid gentle hand on his
shoulder, and yet he trembled under it,
looked at the scar with q little compassionate
COO and kissed it. If the soft, dewy touch
had been a coal of fire be could not have
! started more violently. He caught her up in
his arms. ooh, oh 70 she said, feeling de-
licious shudder at the awful situation, you
hurt meP'
That utterance was not intended TO convey
fact, but to produce an effect. The effect
was instantaneous. He Immediately released
her and stood before her abashed and full of
apologies.
''There that will do, said she, smiling and
checking him with touch of her hand on
her arm. "Now, tell me, how would your
wife have to liye?''
Hope and rapture were in he. words.
Honest John Rolfe told his tale in plain,
unvarnished way. He described the simple
style of living in the Western wilds, the so
cial customs and manners, coneealing none
of the things that she would be likely to find
novel and trying, and concluded with fervent
assurances that it would be his constant and
highest object in life to make her happy
Earnestness of feeling gave dignity and elo
quence to his speech.
She listened with intentness, and when he
had finished she put her hand in his and
4 said SIMPLY: II will trust you. Take me
I with you"
He raised her hand to his lips and then
impulsively caught her in his arms. She
meekly resigned herself for a bIissful mo-
ment. Then extricating herself, she said :
''How shall we manage our departure?"
'Why, what do you mean! viii | have
to carry you off by stealth ~ he said, indig-
nantly.
"You know my father will never consent
to my marriage with you," said she, with
some hauteur of manner. Could it be that
the impassioned lover of three years back
had grown worldly since, and was thinking
of her dowry2
And then the pride of the man blazed up.
What, come back to the house of his friend
and benefactor, and steal his daughter like a
theft No; he would go TO Mr.. Craydocke
and tell him that, in aspiring to his daugh-
ter's hand again. he had the assurance of her
love. If Mr.. Craydocke refused him then
he would get her in spite of them all.
''You forget that am not yet of age"
But argument ayailed nothing. Role was
determined to have his own way, and Edith
loved and admired him for it. She was
crushed, but she liked it.
Edith was correct in her surmise as to the
result of Rolfes action, for the next morn
ing, as soon as Rolfe had made his statement
of affairs to him, Mr.. Craydocke came storm
ing at her wrathfully, demanding to know
the meaning of the outrageous assertion that
that audacious fellow had made. Lifting
her eyebrows and looking up IN great sur
prise, she said: "Why, father, what did he
say to your
Mr.. Craydocke spluttered it out.
"Why, he must be crazy !" she said, with
an air of great establishment.
Cray He's stark, staring mad But my
house is no place for lunatics. He must get
out of here.'
Then she began her caioleries. She pitied
the poor fellow. There was nothing danger
GUS about him, and it would be cruel to turn
him out of the house before all the guests.
He would leave in day or two anyhow, and
they need never see him again, &c. OF
course, she had her own way. But this was